Tresco Abbey Garden
A glorious exception, a perennial Kew without the glass, Tresco Abbey Garden is home to plants from every Mediterranean climate zone, flourishing just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall.
Founded in the 19th century by Augustus Smith around the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey, the garden is now a sanctuary for over 2,000 exotic species from the southern hemisphere and subtropics - from Brazil to New Zealand, Myanmar to South Africa.
Set against the backdrop of a tiny Atlantic island, the garden dazzles with its unexpected lushness: towering palms, flame trees ablaze in lipstick red, and an ever-changing display of rare and radiant plants.
Wander among King Protea and Lobster Claw, the great blue spires of Echium, brilliant Furcraea, Strelitzia, and shocking-pink drifts of Pelargonium. A network of paths crisscrosses this subtropical wonderland, inviting discovery at every turn.
The garden transforms with the seasons: spring blooms weeks ahead of the mainland; autumn cloaks the landscape in golds, ambers, and fiery reds; even in midwinter, around 300 species remain in glorious bloom.
And it’s not just the flora that captivates. Spot red squirrels and golden pheasants roaming freely, encounter striking sculptures in quiet glades, and explore haunting echoes of Scilly's maritime history in the atmospheric Valhalla Figurehead Museum.
Opening Hours
| Current Hours | From 1st November | |
|---|---|---|
| Garden | 10am - 4pm daily (last entry 3:15pm) | 10am - 4pm daily (last entry 3:15pm) |
| Café & Shop | 10am - 4pm daily | Closed |
Plan Your Visit
There's no need to book, and it's easy to get here from across the islands and even from the mainland.
History of the Abbey Garden
In 1834, Augustus Smith left Hertfordshire and took up residence on the Isles of Scilly as Lord Proprietor and leaseholder of all the islands. He chose to live on Tresco and selected a site adjacent to St Nicholas Priory - which had fallen into disrepair in the sixteenth century - to build his home...
Scholarships & Bursaries
The Abbey Garden is an incredible place for horticultural students to gain invaluable experience. Garden curator Mike Nelhams is involved with various scholarships and bursaries which can help students gain placement in this prestigious botanical site.
